All of us are winning by virtue of being alive. By fighting.
But we too often frame discussion of cancer with the now-obligatory martial themes: fighting, battling, winning, losing. Etc.
I appreciate and am encouraged by the way(s) we are, collectively, getting better about discussing cancer. Certainly we are also getting better about detecting, treating and beating it.
But for people, like Scott, very much “in the battle”, it’s nice to hear him acknowledge the help he needs, from his family; from his friends. That he is brave enough not only to get up every time ready to do what he can (even when he can’t), but acknowledge the times he is too tired, sick or simply unable to do anything other than draw another breath. And, as he points out, even on the days he can’t “fight”, there are others who do: the doctors, nurses, and the aforementioned Friend & Family Network.
This is inspiring stuff, on so many levels.
And, as Stuart seems to genuinely understand, it’s not about “winning”, per se. Cancer may get him. And even if it doesn’t, death will get him. It will get all of us, eventually.
It’s not merely about fighting the proverbial good fight; it’s about how you live and how you go about your business. Because Death is always there, waiting. We all know how our personal story ends, even if we don’t want to look or read or hear about it. It’s going to happen, and that awareness should not fill us with dread or paralysis; it should encourage and admonish us to do anything and everything we can to savor each second, nurture each friendship, do every possible act of kindness and above all, be aware.
